Jayakumar defends RS seat to Vasan, AIADMK seniors, DMDK upset

According to AIADMK insiders, party seniors, particularly former MPs, are upset with the party high command for giving the coveted seat to non-AIADMK member. “Last year the party allocated an RS seat to PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, this was a tactical understanding between the AIADMK and the PMK to fight the 18 by-polls in the state which saved the government, but there is no benefit for the AIADMK in supporting TMC, which has less than half one per cent vote share,” a former MP told DT Next wishing not to be quoted.

A dejected DMDK leader LK Sudhish also told reporters that his party is disappointed as the request seeking a Rajya Sabha seat was turned down by the AIADMK top brass.

However, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar on Tuesday asserted that the ties between the DMDK and the AIADMK are still intact. “A decision was taken to allocate Rajya Sabha seat to Tamil Manila Congress chief Vasan by the party’s governing council. AIADMK is like a banyan tree, which gives shadow to all. Accordingly, everyone will get a chance,” he said justifying the allocation to Vasan.

Alleging that the DMK will always neglect its allies, Jayakumar claimed that AIADMK will not do that. To a question on BJP’s intervention in state government’s activities, Jayakumar said, “there was no pressure from BJP, and we are working on our own knowledge.”

TMC leader Vasan also told reporters that the BJP has nothing to do with his nomination to the Upper House.